Dwight Howard Aiming to Get Back into ‘Superman Shape’

The Los Angeles Lakers have stumbled through much of this season, and in addition to the team’s health (or lack thereof), Dwight Howard’s conditioning has been one of the biggest culprits. According to the big fella — who has admitted that his lack of conditioning has cost the Lakers wins — he’s nowhere near where he wants to be physically, but continues to believe he’ll get back there. Per the LA Times: “Dwight Howard ran sprints after practice Wednesday to improve his conditioning and said he had also cut back on candy and undergone acupuncture treatments. ‘I’m in good shape for a basketball player,’ the Lakers center said, ‘but I’m not in Superman shape. I want to get in Superman shape.’ How far away is he, given that it’s been 10 months since he underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back? ‘It’s awhile,’ he said, ‘but I’m going to give it everything I can.’ [...] Howard suggested that his struggles during a season in which he has failed to meet expectations will ultimately help him. ‘This has been a good year for me in spite of all the situations and all the adversity, so I’m happy that I’m going through a lot of this stuff,’ Howard said. ‘I think it’s going to make me better in the long run. So I’m looking at all of this as a gift instead of a curse.’”